My IAS Interview

Date: 02-05-2008

Chairman Of the Board: Sri.K.S. Chalam (+4 other members)

The following interview proceedings are as far as could be recollected. It should be having 90% accuracy with respect to the questions asked and the answers given. The interview proceeded in a very cordial and smooth manner. All the members are gentlemen belong to the age group above 50 years. The interview was the fourth in the afternoon session

(At 4 pm Exactly)

Rajkamal: May I come in Sir?

Chairman: You can… Mr. Rajkamal..

Rajkamal: (As I approach the seat that is meant for me) Good Evening Sirs..

Chairman: Good Evening, take your seat..

Rajkamal: Thank you sir

CH: Rajkamal! Youre from IIT Madras! Didn’t you get any employment?

RK: Sir, I got placed in IOCL and…

CH: Didn’t like that job? Or….

RK: Sir, I got placed in FIITJEE, Delhi also..

CH: Then why didn’t you join the job?

RK: I have made up my mind that Civil Services is the career that I should go for and that’s why I didn’t join any…

CH: OK. You come from Kavali? There is a Minister from your place. Can you name?

RK: I think its Ms. Panabaka Lakhsmi and Mr. Anam Ramanarayana Reddy…
2^nd member: I think she has lost her ministership recently…

RK: Yes Sir, I too think she has..

CH: No, No.. (Opposed both of us) She is still there.

RK: Sorry Sir, I might have mistaken.

CH: Who is the Health minister then?

RK: Ms. Panabaka Lakshmi is actually the minister of state for Health Sir..

CH: Who is the Union Health minister?

RK: Its Mr. Anbumani Ramdoss

CH: Is he Doctor by profession?

RK: Yes Sir

CH: Are you sure?

RK: Yes Sir

CH: Which place he is from?

RK: I think he is from Tamil Nadu

CH: Are you Sure?

RK: Sir, from his name, I predicted.. He was in news in Tamil Nadu also..

CH: I am giving a clue.. His father is also a Ramdoss.. Now tell me is he from Tamil Nadu or Pandicherry?

RK: Sorry Sir, I am not sure..

CH: OK fine (He looked at one of the other 4 members and gave a sign to proceed)

1^st member: I can see that you have the hobbies of writing short stories and Organizing events and Dramatics etc.. Can we listen to any one of your story?

RK: Sure Sir, but I am afraid that it may take longer time…

1^st member: Its Ok (with smile) go ahead..

RK: I generally used to write short stories in my leisure time.. Now I am going to narrate an incident in my short story named “After that I have never Lied!”

1^st member: Good, go ahead..

RK: It’s the story of a man who lies thrice in his life and decides to never lie again… the first time he lies in this incident which occurs when he was a 11 year old boy… The scene is shifted to a railway track in the night and children of railway gangmen are playing near the railway track.. All the children will put 10 paise coins on the tracks and once the trains goes over them, the one whose 10 paise coin becomes bigger will be the winner… While playing there occurs a small fight between the Protagonist (hero is a 11 year old boy now) and his friend.. He calls our protagonist a timid fellow and says he is afraid of everything and anything…Then the protagonist takes it serious and says that he is ready for any challenge to prove his bravery… His opponent challenges him to stop the train will be approaching them in few seconds…! Then the protagonist tries all whatever he can try to stop it (by waiving his red shirt etc.. etc) and finally stops it.. Once the train is stopped near to them, the driver and other strong men came out of the train shouting… These children including our protagonist are very much afraid of this.. They are about to reach them… in that fraction of second the protagonist takes JUST TWO STEPS BACKWARD… it makes his opponent to stand closer to the train… Then one of those gentlemen approaching to beat the children finds out that the track behind the children
(just a few meters from where they are standing ) is derailed! So they Praise the opponent of the protagonist and takes him into their arms and praises him for saving the lives of so many people, including the minister traveling in the same train! All this happened in a matter of seconds.. The Protagonist is shocked and remains silent… In the coming episodes of the story, the opponent of the protagonist gets President’s medal and Scholarship for bravery (which should have actually belonged to the Protagonist!) And in later parts of his life he couldn’t be able to compete with his opponent due to the financial support he got.. After this he lies twice more in different stages of his life.. other scenes are also aimed this way to project the reality that lying sometimes hurts badly… directly… very badly…

(smile from the members, I felt it as an appreciation)

1^st member: That’s very good.. Your way of narration is appreciable

RK: Thank you Sir..

CH: Is that protagonist you, Mr. Rajkamal? (with a smile)

RK: No, Sir (with a smile)

1^st member: Tell me about Telangana Issue.. Tell whether it should be carved out of AP or not?

RK: No Sir, I don’t find any strong reason to bifurcate AP..

1^st member: Which place you belong to?

RK: I am from Coastal Andhra Sir.. Not from Telangana

CH: Is Nellore not a part of Rayalaseema?!

RK: Not really Sir.. Its infact considered as a part of Coastal Andhra..

CH: OK

1^st member: So you don’t have any stake in Telengana I guess, Right?

RK: No Sir

1^st member: Explain why do you think there is no need to bifurcate?

RK: First of all, the major issue of Telangana is underdevelopment esp in the agricultural sector. Its due to the lack of irrigation facilities. It is often being mentioned by the regional leaders that these waters are getting diverted into Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra from Telangana. But in reality the surface water level of these rivers is many feet below to that of the ground level. Hence they are going into sea unutilized. But now the Govt came up with new technology of mega lift irrigation schemes like Devadula, Pranahita-Chevella etc. It is estimated that these projects alone will irrigate nearly 40 lakh acres in Telangana region.

Apart from this educational backwardness is dealt with the existing region based reservations on the basis of local, non-local grounds. And there are plans to set up at least one university in every district of Telangana.

Also if there is an incidence of bifurcation then the new govt may go for peace talks with the Maoists. As we have already seen whenever the AP government takes a soft stance on Maoists and invites for talks, there is increase in Maoist activity in the state.

Since the bifurcation indicates the irreconcilability of….

1^st member: OK Mr. Rajkamal. Your from Chemistry background can you explain about the Russian Vaccum Bomb?

RK: Sorry Sir, I am not aware of the technology involved in it

1^st member: You might be aware of the latest development that the US Federal Bank decreased the bank rate by 25 basis points.

RK: Yes Sir

1^st member: Will there be any impact of that on India? If yes how?

RK: Sir, decreasing the bank rate pumps money into the US economy..

1^st membet: How?! If the bank rate is reduced then money is going to go out of the economy.. But your telling the reverse…

RK: Sorry Sir.. I mean in the Global perspective its true that money is going to come out of US. What I mean to say is, with reduction of the bank rate the domestic market of US will have more money supply which will help its finance sector to come out of the recession and other problems like sub-prime crisis etc. So the effect on India will be indirect and marginal.

1^st member: Alright, you have the other optional as Political Science and International Relations.. Did you observe the change of Indian Govt’s stance regarding Myanmar?

RK: Yes Sir, India was always sympathetic to the cause of Democracy and pro-democracy movements in Myanmar. But in last few years our stand has softened regarding our dealings with the military backed govt in Myanmar.
Might be India is constrained to take that stance now, as we are concerned about our security and the MBI gas pipeline which has to originate from Myanmar. As our external affairs minister clearly said regarding Myanmar that, India doesn’t want to export any ideology including democracy to any other country…

2^nd member: That’s true.. India need not have to export any ideology like the US’ good-governance clause etc. But instead of interfering don’t you think India should have put diplomatic pressure on Myanmar?

RK: Yes India has been putting enough pressure and recently the Military Govt too yielded a bit and assured steps for the restoration of democracy in the near future….

2^nd member: Thats ok, the Myanmar govt said that it will conduct free and fair elections and restore democracy by 2009, but it didn’t remove the ban on Ang san suukyi..

RK: Yes Sir, it might not be a gigantic step in the direction but can be seen as first step in the direction of democracy when the situation in Myanmar is concerned.

2^nd member: You know about ASEAN?

RK: Yes Sir, Association of South East Asian Nations

2^nd member: Tell me is Myanmar a member of it?

RK: Yes Sir

2^nd member: Are the ASEAN nations putting enough diplomatic pressure on Myanmar Govt regarding this issue?

RK: Yes Sir, I can recall that ASEAN summit of 2007 has ratified a charter for ASEAN nations which made ASEAN a rule based organization like that of the EU. And according to it democracy is also a necessary condition to hold the membership of ASEAN. So there is diplomatic pressure on Myanmar that it might lose its ASEAN status.

2^nd member: Fine.. Have you heard about the word hemtochemistry? (I heard it as femto)

RK: Sorry Sir, I am not aware of it..

2^nd member: It’s the study of chemistry of reactions occurring in the order of pico seconds.. Anyway What do you know about Har Gobind Khurana? What is his exact area of research? Exact area?

RK: He is one of the greatest Scientists India has produced and he got Nobel Prize too. His worked on Genetic engineering and DNA sequencing….

2^nd member: Your on the right track… explain clearly what is gene sequencing in a simple language?

RK: Sir, Our chromosomes are made of Strands of DNA (de oxy ribo nucleic acid) and there are specific sequences for these acids.. For example a person may have a repeating sequence as ATPPPTPAPTP or something like that.. based on the physical character of a person like decease etc, the scientists are trying to formulate certain patterns to decode them..

2^nd member: Ya that’s what Mr. Khurana did..

3^rd member: I can see that you have studied International Relations in your preparation. Indian International Policy is a complicated one to understand in detail. First of all tell me who is the architect of this?

RK: I think its Jawahar Lal Nehru sir. His ideas such as NAM, socialistic ideals etc shaped Indian Foreign Policy in the earlier days.

3^rd member: Fine.. What are the major changes you see in the today’s foreign policy compared to that of the 50s and 60s?

RK: Sir, right now there is an evident change. For example India’s Look East policy and constituting a Economic group in the ministry of external affairs and our relations with Israel etc. Today more than geopolitics, we are being guided by the geo-economics in this changed world order. Even China is an indication, though the boundary dispute is not settled, we are engaged in trade relations with China which was not a trend in the 50s and 60s where the political factors used to be important determinant.

3^rd member: Do you think steps are being taken in the right direction when it comes to solving the boundary dispute?

RK: Everyone thought after the 2005- “Political Parameters and Guiding Principles” agreement will pave the way for the end of the dispute. But now its trivial that China is opted out of it. Because according to the agreement none of the countries should exchange any populated areas on either side of the border regarding the settlement of boundary dispute and should not publicly claim for any such area.. but unfortunately China very recently again reiterated its pre-1988 stance by publicly announcing that Tawang which is a part of Arunachal Pradesh is a part of China!

3^rd member: Why do you think that has happened?

RK: Sir, India is always consistent when it comes to its foreign policy, example is its strict adherence to 2005 guidelines agreement. Where are China’s foreign policy is an unpredictable one!

(Members generally surprised!)

CH: Unpredictable??!!

RK: Yes Sir, China was very opportunistic when it comes to its national interest. For eg, it was soviet ally in the 50s but in mid 50s its departed due to the boundary dispute and leadership fight in communist world etc and in 70s it again got linked to US and the West, and again at the end of the cold war it proclaimed an independent foreign policy and market socialism

3^rd member: OK.. You being a student of political science, how will be looking into today’s news article that the Hon. Speaker suggested the names of 32 MPs to the Privilege Committee? What is it? What are its Powers? Before that give your stance, will you accept this move or oppose it? Since we talk of special privileges to the MPs.. Substantiate?

RK: Sir, I strongly support this move of the Hon. Speaker Because

In 2004, 2006 the budgets were passed without any voting on the demand for grants and I read in a magazine that 1 minute of Parliament’s time costs Rs. 26000 to the public exchequer. So the speaker’s initiative is justified.

3^rd member: So you say if necessary that is beyond a limit, they can even be suspended right?

RK: Yes Sir, I also suggest for an automatic extension scheme where in case if the house is disturbed for 5 days then there should be automatic extension of the house for 5 days as the duties of the legislature infact got increased..

3^rd member: OK

4^th member: You have studied International Relations and just now said something about the China- India relations.. Tell me why it happened so? At once till 1954 we (means China and India) were very good friends with slogans Chini-China etc.. What happened to Panchsheel? First of all tell me what is panchsheel?

RK: (thought for 10 secs) Panchsheel represents “ Peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, mutual non- aggression, equality as the fundamental values between two nations”

4^th member: You think Indian foreign policy is still guided by these ideals?

RK: Yes Sir, to a large extent.. India has been very consistent when it comes to its foreign policy. Even now these ideals are respected but India diversifying its base of foreign policy by being forced to act according to the constraints.

4^th member: After the war, Indian relations are constrained with China for long.. Nearly 20 years there were no diplomatic relations. Who actually took the intiative for the dialogue?

RK: Sir, its Rajiv Gandhi’s visit of 1988 which actually brought back diplomatic ties with China. I do also recollect that Dr. K.R.Naryanan too made a visit in the level of vice president to China..

4^th member: Whats the exact agreement? Can you name it?

RK: Sir, I don’t exactly recollect it.. I read it as LUMA or MUMA declaration.. I am not sure.. (Its actually MUMA)

4^th member: Its alright, tell me is there any change in the policy of India in that agreement esp regarding the boundary dispute?

RK: Yes Sir, the boundary issue was perceived to be a sensitive issue and tried to establish other relations with China without over focusing on boundary issue alone.

4^th member: You have seen the emergence of coalition politics in India. You might have seen the 5 years rule of NDA lead by BJP and nearly another 5 years by the current UPA.. Bring out the differences between these two coalitions?

RK: Sir if you ask me to differentiate on the lines of ideology….

4^th member: Ya.. there are ideological differences between these two but apart from them did you find any other major difference in their functioning?

RK: Sir when it comes to the positives, NDA should be really appreciated for their contribution to the field of external relations. Esp many initiatives lead by Vajpayee are extraordinary, like the visit to China and new look east policy etc. Where as UPA trying its best to maintain their good work and focus on agricultural sector is an appreciable dimension of UPA, like the debt waiver of Rs. 60000 Crores to the small and marginal farmers. Apart from that the growth scenario is good with India recording an average 8%+ growth in last 3 years.

4^th member: Can you name the country that is formed in the 70s?

RK: Bangladesh

4^th member: Tell me how its formed? We know that its formed because of internal fights in Pakistan.. But what is India role there? Do you justify this interventionist role of Mrs. Indira Gandhi?

RK: Its true that India intervened but its not out of choice but because of the prevailing situations

4^th member: like?

RK: Infiltration problem, humanitarian crisis…

4^th member: We could have controlled this through our army without allowing people to come into India.. then why to intervene?

RK: No Sir, the problem went out of hand and India was constrained to take the step that is military initiative

4^th member: can you tell the name that was given to the army?

RK: Is it during the Bangladesh War Sir?

4^th member: Ya

RK: (thinking…)

CH(with a smile):OK Mr. Rajkamal, you can take leave

RK: Thank you sir, Thank you all.

(By the time I left the room, it was 4.27pm, I was concerned that the interview got over so early!)